Manager A.J. Hinch made a change at closer Tuesday, bumping struggling Chad Qualls in favor of Aaron Heilman, who has been the club's only consistently effective reliever. Heilman has a 2.83 ERA in 28 2/3 innings this season, mostly spent pitching the eighth inning. He has never spent extended time in the closer's role. - link
Chris Carter was the designated hitter last night and likely will remain in that spot for the next four games because the Mets are scheduled to face righties through Saturday. Carter homered in consecutive starts at DH against the Orioles last weekend and has opened eyes within the organization. Manuel said he will look for ways to get Carter more involved in the lineup once the Mets return home and won't have the DH as an option. The manager said that could include giving Carter an occasional start in left field and letting Jason Bay play center. - link
The Mets are usually conservative in the draft. I rated Harvey as a late first round talent, and since he won't be cheap to sign, it is a bit of an unusual selection for the Mets, granted his upside is high. Forsythe, dan Dekker, and Peavey are OK picks but not spectacular, all possible role players. Vaughn is a high-risk/high-reward player but I like him in the fourth round; he could be very good if he can cut back on the strikeouts a bit. Picks seven through ten are actually pretty interesting: four live arms that are fairly raw but could be very good if refined properly. Overall, this class is another so-so outing for a team with the financial resources to make a much bigger splash. - link
RHP : The Mets signed Familia in 2007 as an undrafted free agent aiming to raise him as a starting pitcher. After two successful seasons in the low minors as a starter, the 20 year old righty has hit somewhat of a roadblock with Class A Port St. Lucie. The difference maker is his control. It was spot-on in 2008 and 2009, but now it seems to have diminished. His WHIP is currently sitting up around 1.70. If he can’t regain the control he has showcased in the past, he might be destined for relief work. He’s got the velocity, as his fastball topped out at around 96 mph during the spring. He’s put up very impressive and consistent strike out numbers, which make it seem like he is destined for the Mets rotation. Expect to see him appear on the Mets pitching staff early on in 2013 as a reliever. If he plays his cards right, he may get some starts and wind up a fixture in the rotation. - link
LHP : His 2010 campaign certainly has not been going smoothly, but all things considered, the guy is 6'11". The Mets essentially have a seven-foot pitcher in the system. If the Mets do not focus on his development I’d be shocked, because it isn’t often that a southpaw taller than the likes of Randy Johnson comes around. He exhibits solid control, and that seems to be his best weapon alongside his staggering height. If he develops another pitch and works on getting a handle on his changeup, he’ll gradually begin to advance up the system, in a similar fashion as Jon Niese has over the past couple of years. Don't be surprised if he gets his first Mets pitching experience in early 2012, likely as a starter or to fill whatever need there is. link
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